Edgae s



(NoModel.)

' E; S. BURNHAIVI.

CLOTHES POUNDER.. No. 291,029. Patente-d Jan. 1, 1884.

.AAAAAAAAAAAA-f cf" a; d'6

Wltnesses. Inventon fm JM a y% f. M;

` UNITED STATES PATENT Orrrce.

f Vrancune s; BURNHAM, oF BUFFALQNEW Yon-K.

CLOTHES-P'oUNo-E'R.H

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 291,029, dated January 1, 1884. Application filed April 30, 1882. (Xo model.)

To @ZZ whom it 717,505/ concern,.-

Beit known that I, EDGAR S. BURNHAM, a citizenv of the United States, residing in Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Clothes-Founders, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to certain improvements in clothes-washers, and will be fully and clearly hereinafter shown by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section through the center of the device, the upper portion of the handle being a side elevation. Fig. 2 is a side` elevation of the device complete, except a small portion of the upper part of the handle; Fig. 3 is a top view. Fig. 4 is a vertical central section through the piston and a portion of the piston-rod or handle, and Fig. 5 represents a bottom View,

a represents a cylinder, provided with a curved base, a', commencing close to the body of the cylinder and flaring out gradually7 so as to allow a free passage downward for the water. In addition to that, it incloses a portion of air between it and the pump-cylinder, and thereby acts as a cushion in the usual way for preventing injury to the clothes while washing with it. The piston-rod a2 is a hollow metallic piston-rod all except the lower portion, a3, which is made solid, so as to prevent the water from getting into the piston-rod and destroying the wooden portion a* of the handie. Where thewooden portion of the handle in the piston-rod becomes wet it is continually shrinking and swelling, and eventually bursts the metallic pistonsurrounding it. This construction is intended to avoid that.

a5 represents a screw adapted to fit into the bottom of the piston-rod.

c represents the piston-head. (See Fig. 4.) It is provided with a shallow depression to receive the screw-head, and on the opposite or top side is provided with a socket portion. c, to receive the piston, as shown. Into this socket the piston is put and the screw inserted, as will be clearly understood by the drawings. riphery with grooves to assist in packing the 5o joint, and the upper portion is provided wi th a depression, c2. The bottom of the cylinder a is provided with arms or bars c3, to prevent The piston-head is provided on its pethe clothes from being drawn up into the cylthe cylinder is provided with a top ring, c,

having arms c6 to sustain the central portion, 07, which portion is provided with a shoulder, c, against which the top or cover e is supported when in place. (See Fig. l.) There is an opening, e2, through the central portion, c, for the piston-rod to pass through and connect with the piston-head.

e3 represents a spiral spring tted around the piston rod or handle and extending from the collar e4 down to and over the projection e5 on the cover, in which position it accomplishes a double purpose-first, to hold the cover c' down in place; second, to draw the piston-head up after it has been forced down. The collar e7 is held in place by means of a thumbscrew, e6. The cover or casing e is arranged considerably above the cylinder, so as to leave room for the water to pass in over the piston-head, and is just set on in place, so-as to be easily taken olf 'when required for repairs or for other purposes, and is kept in place bythe spring ci". It projects down over 'the sides of the cylinder (see Figs. l and 2) and inclines slightly inward. the object being to cause the water to pass down solidly close to the sides of the cylinder in the direction of the arrows o, so that the upward movement of the piston will force the water down in a solid body on the clothes, and also to avoid all danger of splashing the water about.

The wooden handle at is secured to the rod a2 in any well-known way, and is provided with ahandle, f, secured to it at any point desired by a clamp, f, which extends around it and then through the handle,when it is secured by a nut, f2. The clamp is provided with two extensions, f3, and the opposite side of the handle is provided with a grooved end, f4, a portion, f5, of which extends out each side, as shown. The tightening of the nut f2 will draw the parts iirmly together. The projections fif, it will be readily seen, greatly strengthen the parts and keep the handle from being cut or worn. The piston-head is fastened by the screw ci, so that `the head is hat and even with the bottom.

IOO

The operation of the invention will be easily understood. The machine is operated in a manner similar to a clothespounder, and in being placed in a tub of clothes the first operation is to press down the piston-head, which causes the water to rush up around the opening g, around the cylinder, and on top of the piston-head. This operation seals the joint. rlhe next operation the piston-head is raised, which forces the Water out down the sides of the cylinder, as above nientioned,which passes into the clothes and assists in Washing them. This upward movement of the piston-head iills the Cylinder with water,which is forced down through the clothes on the descent of the piston-head.

It will be noticed that the cover c is made to incline slightly inward toward the sides of the cylinder. rlhe object of this is to cause thewvater when forced out to pass closely down the sides of the cylinder and to prevent the splashing of the water While operating the device.

I do not claim, broadly, a cover to prevent the splash, as I ain aware that alone in itself 2 5 considered is not new; but

'What I do claim is The cylinder a, having a rin), a', commencing closely at the sides of the same and gradually curving outward, as specified, in combination with a piston-head, a, an open ring. c, at the bottom, a rod, a2, and handle, a spring, e3, adj ustahle collar el. and a 'detachable cover, c', projecting down over and slightly inclining inward toward the sides of the cylinder a, substantially as and for the purposes specified. EDGAR S. BURNHAM. Witnesses:

J. M. CALDWELL, J. SANGSTER. 

